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Gentak Coupon - Gentak 3.5g of 0.3% tube of ointment

gentamicin

Generic Gentak
Used for Skin Infection, Eye Infection, Bacterial Infection
Used for Skin Infection, Eye Infection, Bacterial Infection

Gentamicin (Gentak) is a popular, affordable antibiotic for treating different types of bacterial eye infections. It comes as an eye drop and an eye ointment.

Last reviewed on August 27, 2021
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What is Gentamicin (Gentak)?

What is Gentamicin (Gentak) used for?

  • Bacterial infections of the eye or eyelid

How Gentamicin (Gentak) works

Gentamicin (Gentak) is an aminoglycoside antibiotic. It kills bacteria by blocking their ability to make proteins that are necessary for their protective covering.

Drug Facts

Common BrandsGentak
Drug ClassAminoglycoside antibiotic
Controlled Substance ClassificationNot a controlled medication
Generic StatusLower-cost generic available
AvailabilityPrescription only
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Avg retail price
$38.56(save 64.18%)
GoodRx discount
$13.81
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What are the side effects of Gentamicin (Gentak)?

The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

Common Side Effects

See Risks and Warnings.

Other Side Effects

  • Eye burning or irritation
  • Pink eye (not caused by bacteria)
  • Damage to the "skin" of the eye (conjunctival epithelial defects)
  • Eye redness

Serious Side Effects

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
  • Allergic reactions

Source: DailyMed

The following side effects have also been reported

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common

Itching, redness, swelling, or other sign of irritation not present before use of this medicine

redness of eye, eyelid, or inner lining of eyelid

Rare

Black, tarry stools; blood in urine or stools; or unusual bleeding or swelling

blurred vision, eye pain, sensitivity to light, and/or tearing

seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there

hallucinations

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Less common

Burning or stinging

After application, eye ointments usually cause your vision to blur for a few minutes.

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

pros-and-cons

Pros and cons of Gentamicin (Gentak)

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Pros

Treats various bacterial eye and eyelid infections

The ointment form requires fewer doses per day compared to most alternatives.

Available as a lower-cost, generic form

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Cons

The ointment form tends to be messy and harder to put in the eye.

Can cause temporary eye irritation or burning

pharmacist-tips

Pharmacist tips for Gentamicin (Gentak)

pharmacist
  • Be sure to use gentamicin (Gentak) for the full amount of time your healthcare provider instructed, even if you start to feel better. Stopping gentamicin (Gentak) too soon can cause your infection to come back and be harder to treat.

    • Wash your hands before and after using gentamicin (Gentak). Don't touch the tip of the container with your eye, hands, or any other surface. This will help avoid spreading germs and bacteria to the medication and your eyes.

      • Eye drops: After placing the drop(s) in your eye, close your eye and press one finger to the inner corner of your eye by the nose for 1 to 2 minutes. This helps make sure your eye absorbs the drop.

        • Eye ointment: Gently pull down your lower eyelid and put the ointment into the space between your eyelid and eyeball. Then, let go of the eyelid and close your eye for 1 to 2 minutes, so the medication is able to reach all the necessary parts of the eye. If you want to wipe off extra ointment or greasiness on the outside the eye, do it carefully and make sure you're using a clean tissue. Eye ointments usually cause blurry vision, but this should only last a couple minutes.

          • Don't put any other medications in the eye for at least 5 minutes before or after gentamicin (Gentak).

            • It's best not to wear contacts while you have an eye infection, since this can affect how quickly your symptoms improve. Be sure to throw away the contacts you were wearing before you started using gentamicin (Gentak), because they most likely have bacteria on them. Wear new contacts once your infection is cleared up.

              faqs

              Frequently asked questions about Gentamicin (Gentak)

              What is gentamicin (Gentak) used for?
              Gentamicin (Gentak) is an antibiotic that treats bacterial infections of the eye (such as pink eye or corneal ulcers) or eyelid (such as blepharitis or oil gland infection). You may also get this medication after eye surgery or injury to help prevent bacterial infections from happening.
              What kind of bacteria does gentamicin (Gentak) treat?
              Gentamicin (Gentak) eyedrops and ointment work against many different bacteria; you may have heard of some of them, such as Staphylococcus ("staph"), Streptococcus ("strep"), and Escherichia coli ("E.coli"). Your provider will prescribe antibiotic eye medications that target the bacteria that are most likely to be causing your eye infection.
              How long does it take for gentamicin (Gentak) to work?
              Since you're applying the medication directly where the infection is, gentamicin (Gentak) should start to work right away, but it'll take a few days to see any changes. For most eye or eyelid infections, it usually takes 1 to 2 days for your symptoms to start clearing up, so contact your provider if your infection isn't looking better after that time. Be sure to use gentamicin (Gentak) for the full amount of time your healthcare provider instructed, even if you start to feel better.
              Can you buy gentamicin (Gentak) over-the-counter?
              Gentamicin (Gentak) is not available over-the-counter. All antibiotic eyedrops and ointments require a prescription from a provider.
              Is gentamicin (Gentak) a steroid?
              Gentamicin (Gentak) is not a steroid or corticosteroid. It is an antibiotic eye medication that kills bacteria. If you have a severe eye or eyelid infection, your provider may prescribe an additional steroid medication for you to take to help with the swelling.
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              What are the risks and warnings for Gentamicin (Gentak)?

              Gentamicin (Gentak) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.

              risk-warning

              New infection

              • Risk factors: Using gentamicin (Gentak) for too long

                It's possible to get a new infection from fungi or bacteria that are resistant to gentamicin (Gentak) after using this medication for a while. Don't use this medication longer than prescribed. Let your provider know if you notice symptoms of a new infection or if the original symptoms don't get better after using gentamicin (Gentak).

                risk-warning

                Irritation or allergic reaction

                • Risk factors: Allergy to other aminoglycoside antibiotics

                  Gentamicin (Gentak) can cause eye irritation and, in some rare cases, it can cause an allergic reaction. Call your provider if you experience irritation, pain, rash, or redness that is severe or doesn't go away. Let your provider know if you've had allergic reactions to other aminoglycoside antiobiotics like tobramycin (Tobrex) in the past.

                  risk-warning

                  Slower healing (ointment form)

                  Eye ointments like gentamicin (Gentak) may slow healing of the cornea, which is the protective covering in the front of the eye. Remember to follow-up with your provider to make sure that your eye is healing appropriately.

                  risk-warning

                  Contamination (spreading germs and bacteria)

                  Bacterial contamination of eyedrops can lead to eye infections. Wash your hands each time before you take a dose. Don't touch the tip of the container with your eye, hands, or any other surface. Remember to put the cap back on the container after each use.

                  dosage

                  Gentamicin (Gentak) dosage forms

                  The average cost for 1 tube of 3.5g of 0.3% of Gentamicin (Gentak) is $13.81 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 64.18% off the average retail price of $38.56.
                  eye dropper
                  Eye dropper
                  DosageQuantityPrice as low asPrice per unit
                  5ml of 0.3%1 eye dropper$13.87$13.87
                  15ml of 0.3%1 eye dropper$29.66$29.66
                  tube of ointment
                  Tube of ointment
                  DosageQuantityPrice as low asPrice per unit
                  3.5g of 0.3%1 tube$13.81$13.81

                  Typical dosing for Gentamicin (Gentak)

                  • Eye ointment: Apply a half-inch sized ribbon to the infected eye(s) 2 or 3 times a day.

                  • Eye drops: Place 1 or 2 drops in the affected eye(s) every 4 hours. For severe infections, you may need to use it every hour.

                  interactions

                  Interactions between Gentamicin (Gentak) and other drugs

                  Gentamicin (Gentak) may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Gentamicin (Gentak). Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.

                  Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

                  • Ataluren

                  Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

                  Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

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                  How much does Gentamicin (Gentak) cost?

                  To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.View prices & coupons
                  alternatives

                  What are alternatives to Gentamicin (Gentak)?

                  There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Gentamicin (Gentak). Compare a few possible alternatives below.
                  Gentamicin (Gentak)
                  Used for:
                  • Bacterial infections of the eye or eyelid

                  $13.81 Lowest GoodRx priceView Prices
                  Used for:
                  • Bacterial infections of the eye or eyelid

                  $6.81 Lowest GoodRx priceView Prices
                  Used for:
                  • Bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye that's caused by a bacterial infection)

                  • Corneal ulcer (keratitis) that's caused by a bacterial infection - eye drops only

                  $10.49 Lowest GoodRx priceView Prices
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                  Gentamicin (Gentak) images

                  This medicine is Colorless Tube Of Ointment.

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